Anderson was abducted by a family friend, James DiMaggio, in San Diego on Aug. 4. The bodies of Anderson's mother and 8-year-old brother were later found at DiMaggio's home, which he had burned to the ground. Authorities claim DiMaggio tortured and killed them.

Prior to the kidnapping, Anderson and DiMaggio, whom she referred to as "Uncle Jim" had exchanged letters in which she told him about her strained relationship with her mother, she said on Today. The day Anderson was kidnapped, she and DiMaggio, 40, exchanged a series of text messages, which she says were because he needed directions to pick her up from a cheerleading camp.

"He didn't know the address or where I was, so I had to tell him the address and tell him that I was going to be in the gym and not in front of the school, just so he knew where to come get me," Anderson explained.